Syria says monitors not being impeded
Source: Agencies |
December 30, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SYRIA said yesterday it was providing Arab monitors with "all the facilities they need" in a mission to assess whether Damascus has halted a nine-month crackdown on protesters.
Anti-government activists have criticized the mission, saying observers have only been coordinating with government officials and not with them, and rely on government transport to get around, undermining their independence.
Arab League officials yesterday said they were having difficulty talking to monitors because communication lines were poor.
"They (the monitors) are getting all the facilities they need with no exception and that is reflected in the positive statements made by the Sudanese chief of observers," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jihad Makdesi said.
Sudanese General Mustafa Dabi has said that the Syrian government is cooperating well with monitors. He also said his initial trip to the flashpoint city of Homs showed "nothing frightening," though more time may be needed to get a clear picture.
"The success in the Arab League mission in reflecting the true story of the Syrian crisis is in the vital interest of Syria," Makdesi said.
Syria says it is fighting foreign-backed terrorists who have killed more than 2,000 of its security forces.
More than 5,000 protesting civilians and army deserters have been killed by Syrian forces, according to the United Nations.
Security forces shot dead at least 19 people in Syria yesterday, many in cities that an Arab League delegation will tour to check compliance with a plan to end a crackdown on an anti-government uprising.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most of those were killed when government forces opened fire on countrywide protests.
Anti-government activists have criticized the mission, saying observers have only been coordinating with government officials and not with them, and rely on government transport to get around, undermining their independence.
Arab League officials yesterday said they were having difficulty talking to monitors because communication lines were poor.
"They (the monitors) are getting all the facilities they need with no exception and that is reflected in the positive statements made by the Sudanese chief of observers," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Jihad Makdesi said.
Sudanese General Mustafa Dabi has said that the Syrian government is cooperating well with monitors. He also said his initial trip to the flashpoint city of Homs showed "nothing frightening," though more time may be needed to get a clear picture.
"The success in the Arab League mission in reflecting the true story of the Syrian crisis is in the vital interest of Syria," Makdesi said.
Syria says it is fighting foreign-backed terrorists who have killed more than 2,000 of its security forces.
More than 5,000 protesting civilians and army deserters have been killed by Syrian forces, according to the United Nations.
Security forces shot dead at least 19 people in Syria yesterday, many in cities that an Arab League delegation will tour to check compliance with a plan to end a crackdown on an anti-government uprising.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said most of those were killed when government forces opened fire on countrywide protests.
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